It was full nighttime darkness when I began the drive. My headlights carved cones of light into the night and I had to blink in the glare of approaching headlights. Then, suddenly, surprisingly, as I crested a steep hill I spotted the first faint layer of daylight lifting above the eastern horizon. Glancing at the dashboard clock I was relieved to see that there was still more than 40 minutes until sunrise. I would have enough time to arrive at…
I am pleased and excited to offer information on my new book, Nature’s Pathways to Mindfulness scheduled for release on October 1, 2024. Here is a description of the book from Christine Cote, publisher of Shanti Arts. ******** In 2014 John Harvey fulfilled his one-year commitment to sit in the forest once each week for one hour to observe nature. It turned out to be a richly rewarding experience. He learned to more fully see, hear, smell, and feel;…
On an early, misty, chilly September morning Ellington joined me for a shared sit spot at Browning Beaver Meadow. As a nature photographer and landscape painter she was practiced in seeing details and vistas. As an acupuncturist she understood the natural waves and energies of healing. As a long time practitioner of yoga and meditation she knew about mindfulness. And as an avid hiker she enjoyed the outdoors. And, most importantly she volunteered to join me All of these reasons…
I planned to go to a different spot. Perhaps out past Horse Island to the remote tip of Bird Shoal where I might gain a new perspective on nature in the Rachel Carson Reserve near Beaufort, NC. My two previous sit spots at the Reserve had been conducted from the observation deck on Carrot Island. Both had been beautiful, instructive, and remained vividly etched in my memory. I had learned much about the salt marshes and tidal flats. Now, I…
Much felt familiar as I began my hour long sit spot on the terrace adjacent to the 17th century stone farmhouse, Podere di Santa Maria, the Farm of Saint Mary. To the east the familiar faint first light of day lifted above the forested hills of Tuscany. The air was filled with a typical pre-dawn freshness. I heard customary morning sounds—a rooster crowing, a dog barking, and around me the steady drone-chirp of crickets. I sensed differences as well—a faint…
The Aldo Leopold Bench At 3:30 a.m., with such dignity as I can muster of a July morning, I step from my cabin door, bearing in either hand my emblems of sovereignty, a coffee pot and a notebook. I seat myself on a bench facing the white wake of the morning star. I set the pot of coffee beside me. I extract a cup from my shirt front, hoping none will notice its informal mode of transport. I…
Down three flights of stairs, a quick sixty-eight steps across the yard, and I arrived at the edge of the vacant lot. Often while on vacation at my timeshare I had walked by this lot usually eager to get to the beach and had paid scant attention to what by all appearances was simply an overgrown and neglected patch of property. Then two days ago on my way to a beach walk I heard faint seet-seet-seet calls, turned and spotted…
Prologue John It’s a different story taking another person to an early morning sit spot. On my own, I get there when I get there. But with a guest there is a schedule, in this case a 6:15 a.m. meet up so I needed to get up at 5:15. Worried about being on time I woke up during a night of restless sleep to check the time. I noticed other concerns winding in and out of my dream. How much…
For the majority of enthusiasts, however, birdwatching simply provides a personal and very special entrée into the natural world. Graeme Gibson Day 1 Faint first light, swirls of yellow and orange edging above the southern horizon, the excitement of an early morning winter sit spot— this all felt familiar. The difference was I didn’t have to layer up, drive on icy roads, and trudge through deep snow to get to my destination. Instead, I was seated in…
Prologue Michael 5:00 am I woke at 5:00 a.m. to prepare for a shared sit spot with John. We planned to meet up at 6:30 and walk to the location we had scouted out a month before. I began my early morning routine by stoking the wood stove, dressing, feeding Jean-Luc (my cat), making coffee, and snacking on a little yogurt with granola. I gathered what I needed per John’s suggestions; notebook, pencils (a pen might freeze, John told me),…